Three Hearts
Three Hearts (French: 3 cœurs) is a 2014 French romantic drama film directed and co-written by Benoît Jacquot.[1] The story centers on a tax inspector named Marc who becomes entangled in a love triangle with two sisters after missing a planned rendezvous due to a health issue.[2] Starring Benoît Poelvoorde as Marc, Charlotte Gainsbourg as Sylvie, Chiara Mastroianni as Sophie, and Catherine Deneuve as their mother, the film explores themes of love, deception, and familial bonds.[1] Premiering in competition at the 71st Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2014, and released theatrically in France on September 17, 2014, Three Hearts received positive critical reception, earning an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 40 reviews.[1][2] With a runtime of 106 minutes, the film was produced by companies including Rectangle Productions and Pandora Film Produktion, and distributed by Wild Bunch.[1] It marked another collaboration for Jacquot with Gainsbourg and Mastroianni, following their previous works together.[3]Background and development
Album concept
Bob Welch departed from Fleetwood Mac in 1974, after serving as the band's guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from 1971 to 1974, amid burnout and internal challenges.[4] He transitioned to a solo career with the release of his debut album French Kiss in 1977, which established his independent identity outside the group. Three Hearts, his follow-up solo album issued in 1979, built on this foundation, reflecting Welch's post-Fleetwood Mac evolution toward a more personal artistic voice. The album also featured contributions from former Fleetwood Mac bandmates, including backing vocals by Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, and drums by Mick Fleetwood, bridging Welch's solo work with his band legacy. The album's creative origins stemmed from Welch's aim to craft a contemporary sound distinct from his debut, emphasizing a fusion of rock and pop with prominent keyboard and synthesizer elements to capture the era's evolving musical landscape.[5] This approach incorporated emerging disco influences, particularly in tracks featuring extended mixes and rhythmic grooves, to broaden its appeal amid the late 1970s' diverse pop scene.[6] Thematically, Three Hearts wove together reflections on show business exploitation in Los Angeles—such as the plight of young aspirants ensnared by manipulative figures—and broader existential motifs like the search for truth and personal fulfillment.[5] To demonstrate his musical range and honor key influences, Welch incorporated cover songs including the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," reinterpreted in a bluesy style, and The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly to Me," highlighting his affinity for classic pop harmonies.[7] His original contributions further underscored personal themes of love and spirituality; for instance, "Precious Love" paid tribute to Motown's soulful romance, while "Church" delved into spiritual emptiness and inner longing.[5] These elements collectively positioned Three Hearts as a versatile exploration of Welch's artistic maturation.Song selection
The album Three Hearts features 10 tracks on its original LP release, blending eight original songs written by Bob Welch—such as the title track "3 Hearts" and "Oh Jenny"—with two covers to achieve a cohesive runtime of 37:05.[8] This balance was designed to showcase Welch's songwriting while incorporating familiar material to broaden appeal, with the originals dominating to maintain a personal artistic voice amid the commercial pop-rock landscape of the late 1970s.[9] Among the selections, upbeat pop-disco oriented tracks like "Precious Love" were included for their potential as lead singles, offering energetic hooks that reached #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and provided dynamic openers or closers in the album's sequencing. In contrast, slower ballads such as "Oh Jenny," with its introspective lyrics and extended 4:17 duration, were chosen to add emotional depth and pacing variety, preventing the album from being uniformly high-tempo. The covers, including the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" for its raw rock energy and immediate familiarity, and The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly to Me" evoking doo-wop nostalgia tied to Welch's Fleetwood Mac roots, added variety and commercial draw to the tracklist.[10][9] A 2012 reissue expanded the original LP by adding three bonus tracks: an alternate version of "3 Hearts," the French-language rendition "Une Fille Comme Toi" of "Precious Love," and the B-side "Something Strong."[11]Production
Filming
Principal photography for Three Hearts began on 16 September 2013 and lasted approximately 45 days.[12] Filming primarily took place in the Île-de-France region, with two weeks of shooting in Valence in the Rhône-Alpes region (now Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Additional locations included the train station and Square Bonaparte in Valence, Drôme, as well as sites in Valenciennes, Nord, such as 16 Boulevard Général de Gaulle.[12][13]Production team
The film was produced by Édouard Weil and Alice Girard for Rectangle Productions. Co-producers included Christoph Friedel and Claudia Steffen for Pandora Film Produktion (Germany), and Geneviève Lemal for Scope Pictures (Belgium), with support from Arte France Cinéma. The project received backing from Canal+, Ciné+, the Île-de-France region, the NRW fund, and Sofica entities including Soficinéma, Cinémage, and Palatine Etoile.[1][12] Key technical roles were filled by cinematographer Julien Hirsch, editor Luc Barnier, production designer Sylvain Chauvelot, and composer Bruno Coulais.[14][15]Musical style and content
Genre influences
Three Hearts exemplifies soft rock and pop sensibilities, characterized by smooth melodies and accessible arrangements that align with the yacht rock aesthetic popularized in the late 1970s.[9] Drawing from Bob Welch's tenure in Fleetwood Mac during the early 1970s, the album incorporates blues-rock foundations, evident in its guitar-driven textures and rhythmic grooves, which Welch refined into a more polished, radio-friendly sound. This blending of blues-rock grit with yacht rock's laid-back smoothness creates a cohesive style that emphasizes emotional introspection amid romantic themes.[10][16] A key influence is the infusion of late-1970s disco rhythms, including four-on-the-floor beats and orchestral strings, which add a dance-oriented layer to the rock core. Tracks like "Hot Love" showcase this fusion through pulsating basslines and upbeat tempos that evoke romance, while "Precious Love" employs disco-influenced production to heighten its celebratory feel. This approach capitalizes on the era's disco trends, transforming Welch's harder-edged rock elements from his prior solo work into a more versatile, groove-heavy format suitable for both introspective ballads and energetic love anthems.[16][8][17] The album also nods to 1960s pop through covers such as "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Come Softly to Me," reinterpreted with Welch's contemporary soft rock lens to bridge generational styles. These selections contribute to a thematic consistency centered on love songs, where mid-tempo grooves in pieces like "Oh Jenny" allow for reflective narratives, contrasting with the disco-infused uptempo tracks that convey passion and immediacy. Overall, Three Hearts evolves Welch's sound from the rock-disco hybrid of his debut French Kiss toward greater pop accessibility, prioritizing emotional depth over raw intensity.[10][8][17]Track listing
The original 1979 LP release of Three Hearts features 12 tracks divided between Side A and Side B in the vinyl format.[8] Side A| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "3 Hearts" | Welch | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Oh Jenny" | Welch | 4:17 |
| 3. | "I Saw Her Standing There" | Lennon–McCartney | 2:53 |
| 4. | "Here Comes the Night" | Welch | 3:03 |
| 5. | "China" | Welch | 3:21 |
| 6. | "The Ghost of Flight 401" | Welch | 3:16 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Precious Love" | Welch | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Church" | Welch | 3:06 |
| 3. | "Come Softly to Me" | Ellis–Troxel–Christopher | 2:42 |
| 4. | "Devil Wind" | Welch | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Don't Wait Too Long" | Welch | 3:50 |
| 6. | "Little Star" | Welch | 3:41 |
Personnel
Musicians
Bob Welch served as the primary musician on Three Hearts, providing lead vocals and guitar across all tracks, while also contributing bass guitar and keyboards on several selections.[21] A former member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974, Welch's multifaceted role underscored his transition to a solo career following the band's early-1970s lineup changes.[4] Supporting him were guitarist Todd Sharp, who added rhythmic and lead guitar parts throughout the album, and keyboardist David Adelstein, responsible for keyboards and synthesizer elements that enhanced the pop-rock arrangements.[21] Drummer Alvin Taylor handled the majority of the percussion duties, delivering a solid backbone to the record's diverse tempos.[21] Guest appearances from Welch's former Fleetwood Mac colleagues enriched select tracks. Mick Fleetwood, the band's longtime drummer, performed on "The Ghost of Flight 401," bringing his distinctive style to the song's atmospheric build.[22] Christine McVie, another ex-bandmate and keyboardist-vocalist in Fleetwood Mac, contributed backing vocals and keyboard overdubs to "Bend Me Shape Me" and "Don't Wait Too Long," adding harmonic depth to those songs.[23] Stevie Nicks, who had recently joined Fleetwood Mac after Welch's departure, provided backing vocals on "Devil Wind," her ethereal tone complementing Welch's lead in a nod to their shared musical circle.[24] Percussionist Steve Forman also appeared on several tracks, contributing subtle textures to the album's production.[17] Notable track-specific contributions highlight the collaborative spirit. On the cover of The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," Nicks joined Welch for an impromptu vocal duet, capturing a spontaneous energy during recording.[5] These Fleetwood Mac connections, appearing courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, bridged Welch's solo work with his influential tenure in the group, where he co-wrote key tracks like "Hypnotized" and "Sentimental Lady."[23]Technical staff
The technical staff for Bob Welch's 1979 album Three Hearts encompassed key roles in mixing, engineering, mastering, and visual design that shaped its polished pop-rock sound. John Carter served as the primary producer, with Richard Dashut co-producing "The Ghost of Flight 401."[8] Engineering duties were handled by Warren Dewey, supporting the recording and mixing processes at facilities including Sunset Sound.[21] Mastering was performed by Ken Perry at Capitol Records, ensuring the final audio balance and dynamic range suitable for vinyl release on Capitol Records.[21] Art direction and design were overseen by the firm Vigon Nahas Vigon, creating a cohesive visual identity that complemented the album's thematic elements.[8] Photography for the album cover and promotional imagery was provided by Neal Preston, Olivier Ferrand, and Sam Emerson.[21] Additional contributions came from crew members Curry Grant and David Trask, who assisted in various production logistics, as well as Gene Page, who arranged the string sections to add orchestral texture to several tracks.[8] These efforts provided the post-production framework that refined the musicians' raw performances into a commercially viable release.[8]Release and promotion
Theatrical release
Three Hearts had its world premiere in competition at the 71st Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2014.[1] It was subsequently screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and at the 58th BFI London Film Festival in October 2014.[25][26] The film was released theatrically in France on September 17, 2014, distributed by Wild Bunch.[27] International releases followed, including in Switzerland on September 17, 2014 (French-speaking regions) and May 14, 2015 (German-speaking regions), and in Germany via Wild Bunch Germany. In the United States, it received a limited theatrical release on March 13, 2015, through Cohen Media Group and Kino Lorber.[28][25][29] World sales were handled by Elle Driver.[25] In January 2015, the film received four nominations at the 20th Lumières Awards: Best Film, Best Director for Benoît Jacquot, and Best Actress for both Charlotte Gainsbourg and Chiara Mastroianni.[30]Marketing efforts
Promotion for Three Hearts centered on its festival premieres to generate buzz, with early reviews highlighting the film's exploration of love and fate through its star-studded cast.[1] A trailer was released in advance of the French debut, emphasizing the romantic drama elements and featuring the lead actors.[31] The campaign leveraged the director's reputation and prior collaborations with Gainsbourg and Mastroianni, positioning the film as a sophisticated French arthouse drama. Distributor Wild Bunch handled marketing in France and select European markets, including press junkets and advertising tied to the Lumières nominations. In the US, Cohen Media Group promoted it as a limited release with subtitled screenings in select cities.[29]Commercial performance
Box office
Three Hearts had a budget of €7.1 million (approximately $9.5 million USD).[32] The film earned a total of 365,336 admissions in France, where it opened on September 17, 2014, to 160,854 admissions in its first weekend.[32] Worldwide, it grossed approximately $2.9 million, with France accounting for the majority at $2,319,513.[33] In the United States, the film was released on March 13, 2015, and earned $161,129.[33] Other notable markets included Italy ($240,495), [Belgium](/page/Belgium) (182,451), and Spain ($109,822).[33] The film's profitability was estimated at 40% worldwide, indicating it did not recoup its budget at the box office.[32]| Market | Release Date | Opening Gross | Total Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | September 17, 2014 | $1,026,384 | $2,319,513 |
| United States | March 13, 2015 | $11,794 | $161,129 |
| Italy | November 6, 2014 | $138,451 | $240,495 |
| Belgium | September 17, 2014 | $65,860 | $182,451 |
| Spain | October 30, 2015 | — | $109,822 |
| Austria | May 1, 2015 | — | $24,379 |
| Brazil | April 30, 2015 | $39,965 | $39,965 |
| Worldwide | — | — | $2,874,787 |